Importers complain about cargo inspection
Importers complain about cargo inspection
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Importers Association is
complaining about the on-arrival customs inspection of import air
cargo and proposing that the government allow airfreight to be
inspected at points of loading.
The association's chairman, Amirudin Saud, said at a seminar
organized by the association here yesterday that the on-arrival
inspection of imports by customs officials at airports had
resulted in additional costs to importers.
"I have been receiving complaints from importers almost every
day. They mostly complain about the slow handling of their goods
by customs officials. If they want their goods inspected quickly
they have to bribe the officials," Amirudin said.
The government, under the May deregulatory measures,
stipulated that imports of any value transported by air must be
inspected by customs officials at airports beginning July 1.
The new policy slightly amends the presidential decrees issued
in 1985 and 1991, which required imports worth more than US$5,000
to be inspected by a designated surveyor company at points of
loading.
However, imports worth more than $5,000 coming through
seaports continue to be inspected by state-owned PT Surveyor
Indonesia at points of loading.
Amirudin said he had twice sent letters to nine ministers, on
June 21 and August 23, asking them to allow the imports coming
through airports to be inspected at points of loading.
"I have not yet received any response from the ministers, but
I've heard that they will bring the issue into the deregulation
team," Amirudin said.
Meanwhile, I. Nyoman Moena, former president of Surveyor
Indonesia, confirmed that the current pre-shipment inspection
system for Indonesia's imports is a temporary measure.
"The main aim of installing the pre-shipment inspection to
replace the on-arrival customs inspection is to facilitate smooth
imports and reduce importing costs. So, it is just an
extraordinary instrument only," Moena said at the seminar.
Moena said the on-arrival customs inspection could be restored
only when the customs and excise directorate general could ensure
smooth import flows as happens under the current system of pre-
shipment inspection.
The pre-shipment inspection system, launched in 1985 under a
presidential decree, practically strips the customs and excise
directorate general of its inspection authority.
Earlier this month, the government decided to maintain the
pre-shipment inspection system by extending its contract with PT
Surveyor Indonesia for another two years.
Moena said if the government wants to restore the customs and
excise directorate general's inspection authority, it should
prepare at least three components at the directorate general:
hardware, software and human resources.
"The customs officials must have a new and clean mentality to
remove their previous notorious image," Moena said.
He said the capability and readiness of customs and excise
officials to carry out the pre-1985 system of on-arrival
inspection of imports will depend mainly on the government's
political will. (rid)